U.S., Iraq craft plan to evict insurgents

WASHINGTON -- The United States and Iraq are crafting a two- pronged plan to prepare for Iraq's first democratic election in January, combining a fall military offensive to evict insurgents from volatile areas with creative approaches to ensure that voters will participate in the historic poll, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials.

To address deteriorating security, plans calls for U.S. forces to lead a campaign to clean out insurgents in three key provincial capitals and Fallujah, opening up the cities for Iraqi forces to move in and retain control to prepare for balloting, officials said.

The goal is to use U.S. military muscle decisively but briefly, and then leave to avoid becoming targets or fueling further anti- U.S. sentiment, say U.S. and Iraqi officials. While the United States is confident it can win a military battle, the bigger challenge is creating an Iraqi government presence to prevent key areas from reverting into chaos -- a problem after a U.S. offensive in Fallujah last spring.

"We are still considering an active plan, and I think it's a solid good plan," Iraq's interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said last week in an interview at the end of a weeklong visit to the United States. The approach would involve the simultaneous use of political and military pressure, he said, and would be launched before December. He added that he couldn't discuss details yet but is confident that "it will bring the desired results."

The timing of stepped-up military operations will depend largely on how quickly Iraqi troops are trained and available, said officials, who insist a lag in preparing in Iraqi forces -- and not the Nov. 2 U.S. election -- is the determining factor.

U.S. and Iraqi officials said the planning is aimed at getting them past several major hurdles over the next four months, beginning with the possible escalation in violence as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan starts in mid-October, including a drive that month to start registering voters, and ending with the January elections.

In their effort to stick to the electoral schedule, officials say they will strive to put an Iraqi face on the election preparations, with the United Nations and U.S. groups playing background support roles. That, they hope will lessen the potential for attacks that could disrupt voter registration, the campaign or the election itself.

In planning meant to outmaneuver insurgents, for example, voter registration will be held at 600 food distribution centers where Iraqis pick up their monthly food packages. The goal is to integrate the electoral process into places that would generate a backlash against insurgents if they were attacked, U.S. officials say.

Both U.S. and Iraqi officials say this first national election is so pivotal to the political transition -- and finally creating a government not selected by foreigners -- that the outcome is less important than simply ensuring the vote is held.

"We are fully aware that we have to take political and military and security and police action to bring these three additional provinces under government control and to create conditions where people will be free to register, and free and able to vote when the time comes," Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said in New York on Friday.

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